Carton sealing machine



Nov. 15, 1938. J. FERGUSON 2,136,901

CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1936 1.3 Sheets-Sheet l NOV 15, 1938. J FERGUSON 2,136,901

CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1936 l5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 J16 J15 112 i E .96

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Nova 15, 1938. J. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 19 36 1.3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r Nov. 15, 1938. J. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1936 1,3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 1 l l l l| NOV. 15, 1938. J, LQPERGUSON 2,136,901

CARTON SEALI NG MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I!!! l NOV. 15, 1938. L, FERGUSON 2,136,901

CARTON SEALING MACHI-NE Filed 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 15, 1938. J. L. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Nov. 15, 1938. J. L. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 20, 1936 v %f' 1 Z2,

Nov. 15, 1938. J. L. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 20, 1956 WQN I: Q NW Id r 1 0| II II I 'l I l I l I l l i I l l I l l l A I U n x U Nov. 15, 1938.

J L. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1936 l3 Sheets-Sheet l0 Nov. 15, 1938. .1. L. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Jan. 20, 1936 Pup WNW

NO; 15, 1938. v FERGUSON 2,136,901

CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Nov. 15, 1938. J. L. FERGUSON CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES CARTON SEALING MACHINE John L. Ferguson, Joliet, Ill., alsignor to J. L. Fergrhson Company, Joliet, 111., a corporation oi Application January 20, 1936. Serial No. 50,850

41 Claims.

This invention relates to carton sealing machines and more particularly to so-called double sealers to which cartons may be continuously fed, either by hand or automatically, and in which a one open end of each squared-out carton is automatically sealed. The cartons may then be filled by a suitable filling device, the open end automatically sealed, and the filled and sealed carton may be removed from the machine by suitable i mechanism.

It is an object of the invention to provide a comparatively high speed double sealer in which the complete folding and sealing mechanism occupies a very small space and in which the en- 1 tire device may be adjustable, whereby a single machine may accommodate cartons of various sizes and proportions in accordance with normal requirements. For instance. the particular machine illustrated in the drawings was designed to 20 accommodate cartons from 2% inches to 6 ,5 inches wide, 1 inch to 4 inches thick, and 4 inches to inches in height. However, the invention is adaptableto machines which may be adjustable in all directions within any reasonable limits.

25 It is a further object of the invention to provide a double sealer in which the open end of an unfilled carton and the open end of a filled car ton may be sealed substantially simultaneously and wherein both of the sealing mechanisms may 30 be simultaneously adjustable for operation on cartons of various dimensions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a double sealer in which substantially all of the operations, particularly those relating to sealing operations, are simultaneously controlled from a single driven member.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and the appended claims.

In the drawings,

40 Figure l is a front perspective view of a complete double sealing and filling machine illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the back or carton filling side of the ma- 45 chine and particularly illustrates the sealing and gluing mechanism and the driving mechanism therefor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the sealer controlling mechanism, taken from the back of 50 the machine, as illustrated inv Fig. 2, a portion being broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of that part of the machine comprising the folding and sealing mechanism including the carton receiving station and 55 thefllling'station;

(Cl. 9H)

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line substantially corresponding to line 8-! of Fig. 3 and illustrates a portion of the folder operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation, partially in section, a of the link-and-lever cam controlled mechanism for operating the end fiap folding members 11- lustrated in Fig. 4;

- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the relative arrangement of the various 10 parts of the cam controlled mechanism for operating the various sealing members and taken on a line substantially corresponding to line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view through v the frame and taken on a line substantially corresponding to line H of Fig. 1. 'lhis .vlew illustrates the arrangement whereby the entire lower folding and sealing mechanism and the carton supporting frame or table may be vertically adjusted to accommodate cartons of various heights:

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the base of the machine with the superstructure broken away for the purpose of illustrating the driving mechanism;

Fig. IQ is a side elevation of one embodiment of the liner spreading mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a top view ofthe automatically movable arms and operating mechanism for moving the filled containers from the container conveyor into the discharge conveyor;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the upper sideflap folding mechanism and illustrates the position of the folders during their movement and when ready to beglna folding operation;

. Fig. 124; is a diagrammatic view illustrating the movement of the folder shoes during a folding operation;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the side flap folding mechanism with portions broken away for purposes of illustration with the shoes in the position illustrated in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical sectional view through the bottom carton-sealing mechanism and illustrates the method of sealing the cartons by successive steps;

. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the lateral adjusting mechanism;

' Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the conveyor chains and track therefor and illustrates the adjustable to flights for engaging the cartons;

Fig. 1'7 is a top view, partially broken away, of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 16 and illustrates the tripping mechanism whereby the carton is released by the ilights at the filling station so that it may be operated by a suitable shaker while being filled;

Fig. '18 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line substantially corresponding to line II-II of P18. 16;

Fig. 19 is a top view of the clutch controlling mechanism whereby the sealing operations are synchronized with the step-by-step movements of the cartons;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation. partially in section, of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a side view of a preferred form of liner folder; and

Fig. 22 is an end view of the liner folder illustrated in Fig. 21.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the embodiment illustrated comprises an elongated base I, which may comprise a framework having side channel irons and connecting cross bars. as shown, and which may be supported on suitable legs 2. The base I is provided with a plurality of vertical posts 3 and these posts are arranged to support the entire folding andsealing mechanism. A framework I (Fig. 8) is secured to the top of the posts 3 and rigidly supported thereon and may comprise end plates ii, one of which is mounted at each end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, and longitudinal plates I and I extending between plates 5 and rigidly secured thereto and on which is supported all of that portion of the folding and sealing mechanism.arranged for sealing the top of the cartons after they have been filled.

A second frame member or table I is substantially identical to the frame member I but is inverted as illustrated and is slidably supported upon the vertical posts 3 by means of sleeves I which are arranged to telescope the posts I. The longitudinal plates I and 1* of the table I are sufllciently wide over portions of their length to provide a support for the moving cartons. Transverse shafts III are mounted in suitable bearings in the sleeves 9 and are provided with pinions II engaging rack teeth I2 on the posts I. Worm wheels I3 are secured to the ends of the shafts l0 and operatively engaged by worms II on a longitudinal shaft I5, which latter extends along the front of the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The shaft I5 is supported in suitable bearings in the sleeves 9 and may be provided with a crank I6, whereby the lower framework or table I and all of the mechanism supported thereon may be vertically adjusted as desired relative to the upper frame or support 4. All of the lower folding and sealing mechanism for sealing the lower end of the unfilled cartons is mounted on the table I. It will, therefore, be apparent that the device may be accurately adjusted for any desired length of carton by raising or lowering the table.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the sealer is provided with an endless carton conveyor comprising chains I1 and II which are mounted on suitable sprockets I9 and Iii, respectively. at each end of the machine. The sprocket II is fixed to an idler shaft 2i and in fixed relation to the upper frame member I and the lower sprocket II is slidably splined on the shaft II in fixed relation to the table 8, whereby the lower chain II and its associated sprockets are vertically adjustable with the table I and relative to the upper fixed frame I and the chain II.

The conveyor chains I1 and II are provided with suitable outwardly extending flights for en gaging the cartons and the lower adjustable frame I is laterally extended to provide a table or raceway to support the moving cartons between the filghts, as illustrated. The construction and operation of the carton holding flights will be described later.

The chains I1 and II provide a continuous conveyor for the cartons, and, as illustrated in Pig. 1, the empty cartons are squared out and inserted between the flights at a receiving station, indicated by the reference character A. Suitable mechanism is provided for intermittent operation of the conveyor and is controlled by each insertion of a carton whereby the cartons are moved step by step in accordance with the insertion of the squared out cartons. During the step-by-step movements the lower flaps are folded and sealed. The cartons are then moved by the consecutive movements of the conveyor along the supporting table or frame 8 to the filling position, indicated by the reference character B. The path of movement from the first sealing mechanism may be as long or short as desired and, in the present embodiment, is comparatively long so that other operations may be performed if desired, such as the insertion of liners, coupons, etc.

At the filling station E the cartons are automatically filled by a suitable weighing and dumping device and are then moved, by the successive intermittent step-by-step movements of the conveyor, under a suitable sealing mechanism which completely folds and seals the flaps of each carton. Continued movement brings each filled carton into alignment with a suitable discharge conveyor, indicated generally by the reference character C, into which the cartons are delivered.

The conveyor C may be of any of the usual types and may comprise upper and lower belts I2 and II supported on suitable pulleys 24 and 25, respectively, and continuously driven by means of a vertical shaft 26. The pulley 24 and belt 22 thereon are supported on a suitable frame 22 which is, in turn, fixedly supported at the top of the supporting posts 3, while the lower pulley II and belt 23 are mounted on a frame 23 which is, in turn, secured to the sleeves 9. The lower frame 23' and the lower belt 23 thereon are vertically adjustable simultaneously with the table I to conform to a desired height of carton. The discharge conveyor drive shaft 26 may coact with any suitable mechanism for driving these pulleys and belts, such as a fixed worm and bevel gear transmission for driving the pulley II and a similar worm and gear transmission slidably mounted on the shaft 26 and having the worm splined thereon for driving the pulley 25. It will, therefore, be apparent that the entire mechanism, including the discharge conveyor, is adjustable by means of the crank IE to accommodate any desired length of carton.

The carton conveyor, comprising the chains I1 and II, is intermittently driven by means of a vertical shaft 21 provided with suitable bearings in the base I and in the upper frame member i and secured to its associated ppper sprocket is, the lower sprocket 20 being splined or otherwise slidably mounted in driven relation on the shaft. It will be apparent from the above description, with particular reference to Fig. 1, that the upper chains I1 and associated sprockets I9 at each end of the machine are supported in fixed relation to the upper frame I and that the lower chain II and associated sprockets 20, one of which is also at each end of the machine, are carried by the adjustable table 8 and are adjustable therewith. The sprockets mounted on the short shaft 2| are idlers, while the similar sprockets at the opposite end of the machine are the driving sprockets and are driven by means of the shaft 21.

Suitable glue rolls, which may be of the ordinary, well-known type, are provided for both the upper and lower sealing mechanism and these glue rolls are continuously driven by means of a vertical shaft 29 mounted in suitable bearings in the base I and in the upper frame member 4.

All of the folding and sealing mechanism, except the glue rolls, is intermittently operated in synchronism with the movement of the carton conveyor by means of a vertical cam shaft 29, this cam shaft also being mounted in suitable bearings in the base I and in the upper fixed frame 4.

The discharge conveyor drive shaft 26 and the glue roll drive shaft 28 are continuously driven, while the carton conveyor drive shaft 21 and the sealer mechanism cam shaft 29 are intermittently driven. This is accomplished by a suitable mechanism mounted in the base I (Fig. 9) and which comprises a motor 39 connected in driving relation to a transverse shaft 3| by means of a belt 39* and suitable pulleys. The shaft 3| is connected in driving relation to a second transverse shaft 32 by means of suitable speed reducing gears 33. The shaft 32 drives the discharge conveyor drive shaft 26 through bevel gears 34 and the discharge conveyor will, therefore, be driven continuously. A transverse shaft 35 is mounted adjacent the vertical glue roll drive shaft 28 and is driven therefrom by means of suitable bevel gears 36, the shaft 35 being driven from the shaft 32 by means of a chain 31 on suitable sprockets. It is, therefore, obvious that both the discharge conveyor shaft 26 and the glue roll shaft 28 may be continuously driven from the motor 30.

In order to drive the vertical cam shaft 29 and the carton conveyor shaft 21 intermittently, a sprocket 38 is secured to the shaft 35 and connected by means of a chain 98* to a sprocket 39, which latter is rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 49. The sprocket 39 forms the driving member of a normally disengaged clutch 4|, whereby the shaft 49 may be intermittently driven through the mechanism just described by intermittently engaging and disengaging the clutch 4|. The sealer mechanism cam shaft 29 is driven from the shaft 40 by means of bevel gears 42 which are preferably a two-to-one ratio.

The clutch 4| may be of any suitable type, for instance, such as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of Pat nt No, 1,967,374, issued to Scott, July 24, 93 The clutch 4| is provided with a pawl 4| which is similar to the clutch pawl illustrated in the above-mentioned patent, and the clutch is normally retained disengaged by means of a spring-pressed detent, which latter is normally in a position to prevent the engagement of the clutch by retaining the pawl 4| in clutch disengaging position. A solenoid 49 is arranged to be energized whenever an empty carton is inserted in the machine and this energizing of the solenoid withdraws the spring-pressed detent from engagement with the pawl 4| and the clutch is immediately engaged and the cam shaft 29 rotated one revolution.

The carton conveyor is intermittently driven by a transverse shaft 44 mounted adjacent the vertical carton conveyor drive shaft 21 and connected thereto in driving relation by means of beveled gears 44. The shaft 44 is driven from the shaft 49 by means of a sprocket chain 40 on suitable sprockets. The sprocket on the shaft 44 is rotatably mounted thereon and forms the driving member of a. clutch 44'', which latter may be substantially identical with the previously described clutch 4| except that it is provided with a loosely mounted stop plate 49 having two stop lugs thereon, as illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20, for controlling a pawl 48 similar to the pawl 4| of the cam shaft clutch. The pawl 46 has a pin 49 thereon extending through a slot 46 in the plate. The clutch 49 is normally retained engaged by means of a detent 4|! engaging one of the lugs on the plate.

A suitable clutch controlling mechanism is provided whereby the two clutches may be operated in such a manner that the cam shaft 29 performs one revolution and the shaft 44 performs one-half a revolution, whereby the operation of the cam shaft 29 and the step-by-step movement fizihe carton conveyor may be properly synchro- The mechanism for controlling the clutches is shown in Figs. 19 and 20 and comprises a rock shaft 41 mounted in suitable bearings and having a depending clutch engaging arm 41 for normally retaining the clutch 4| disengaged. The rock shaft 41 is provided with an arm 41 secured thereto and arranged to be moved by the solenoid 43 to permit engagement of the clutch 4|. The arm 41 is also provided with a forwardly extending cam portion 41. which is in the path of a roller 41 secured to the cam shaft 29. It will therefore be apparent that whenever the solenoid is operated to release the clutch pawl to permit engagement of the clutch 4| the rotation of the cam shaft 29 will cause the roller 41 to engage the cam arm 41 and prevent the disengagement of the clutch 4| until the cam shaft has made a complete revolution. This arrangement is desirable in view of the fact that the gears connecting the cam shaft to the clutch driven shaft are preferably two-to-one ratio, and it is therefore necessary that the shaft 49 and the driven member of the clutch thereon shall make two revolutions to one revolution of the cam shaft.

In order to properly synchronize the movement of the carton conveyor shaft with the movement of the cam shaft, the conveyor clutch 40 is controlled by means of a bell crank lever 48 having a cam portion 49 which is also in the path of the roller 41*, so that immediately before the cam shaft 29 has completed its revolution the bell crank 48 will be operated to permit the engagement of the clutch 49 The bell crank 48 is provided with a rearwardly extending rod 49 having a detent 4I1l thereon which is normally in the path of the lugs on the clutch stop plate 40, and is moved by the operation of the bell crank to release the clutch plate and permit engagement of the clutch 49". By this arrangement the two clutches are properly synchronized so that the cam shaft is rotated once for each step of the carton conveyor.

The solenoid 43 is provided with a suitable electrical circuit for connection with a power source and is in series with a switch 49. The switch 49 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4 and is mounted on the upper frame 4 adjacent the carton receiving station A and is normally held open by means of a spring 59. The switch will be closed whenever an empty carton is inserted between the conveyor flights at the receiving station and in a position to be moved by the carton conveyor.

The spring-pressed clutch detent, when released by the solenoid, immediately returns to clutchdisengaging position as soon as the inserted carton is moved by the conveyor sufiiciently to release the switch 4!. The clutch is preferably operated in a manner to cause one revolution of the cam shaft 29 and the conveyor drive shaft 2! whenever an empty carton is inserted.

As the cartons are inserted they are moved step by step by the intermittent operation of the clutches in accordance with the insertion of consecutive cartons. The sealing operation of the lower end of the squared-out carton is accomplished in the first three steps of the intermittent operation after the carton is inserted.

In the first step, the end flaps are folded and are maintained in folded position by means of a longitudinally movable bar or retainer illustrated in Fig. 14. This bar retains the end flaps folded during succeeding steps until the side flaps are folded and sealed and the bar is withdrawn during the final sealing operation. In the second step the side flaps are folded outwardly in a position to be engaged by the glue rolls and have a suitable adhesive applied thereto during the next succeeding step. During the said succeed-- ing step the extended side fiaps pass over the glue rolls and the adhesive is applied and suitable laterally movable sealing members or shoes fold the side flaps. One of these shoes retains its position against the fiaps after sealing. thereby holding them sealed until the next succeeding step during which the carton is moved onto the laterally extending table 8 which forms a path and supporting member for the cartons as they are moved by the conveyor.

The steps just described refer to the first folding operations on the lower flaps of the empty squared-out carton inserted at A as illustrated in Fig. i. The mechanism for performing these folding and sealing operations is adjustable for various sized cartons and is supported on the lower table I and is vertically adjustable therewith.

After the carton has been filled and leaves the filling station B, the upper fiaps are folded in exactly the same manner as previously described for the folding operation on the lower fiaps. This final sealing is also accomplished in three steps and substantially simultaneously with the lower end sealing operations on the opposite side of the machine. The mechanism, however, for folding and sealing the upper fiaps is supported entirely upon the upper fixed frame 4 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

So-called adhesive applying mechanisms are provided and comprise an adhesive container or tank SI and a glue roll 52 which are supported on the adjustable table 8 for applying adhesive to the bottom flaps of the empty carton, and a similar adhesive container 5 I and associated glue roll 52' are mounted on the upper fixed table 4 for applying adhesive to the flaps of the filled container. The glue roll 52* is continuously driven from the vertical glue roll shaft 28 by means of beveled gears 53 (Fig. 3) and the lower glue roll 52 is driven from the same vertical shaft 20 by means of a short vertical shaft 54 which is supported in a suitable bearing 55 on the lower table 8 and is telescopically mounted in a bearing 56 on the upper fixed table 4. The short shaft 54 is driven from the shaft 28 by means of a chain 51 on suitable sprockets. The sprocket on the shaft 54 is splined thereon to permit the shaft to telescope the sprocket as well as the upper frame 4 when the table 8 is vertically adjusted. The

lower glue roll 62 is driven from the short shaft N by means of beveled gears II.

By this construction it will be apparent that when the lower table 3 is adjusted vertically to conform to a carton of the desired height, the lower glue roll I? will also be raised or lowered.

A plurality of cams is, $0 and I are secured to the vertical cam shaft 20, and these cams control substantially all of the sealing mechanism for sealing both the lower and upper flaps. With each single revolution of the cam shaft and cams thereon all of the folding operations just described are performed simultaneously on various cartons. The first folding operation in the first step beyond the receiving station A is accomplished by means of an angular folder or tucker 62 secured to a transverse shaft 63 which is oscillatably mounted in suitable brackets on the lower table I. This shaft I3 is provided with a continuously engaged friction clutch 54 which is connected by means of a link to an outwardly extending arm 88 on a vertical shaft 81. The vertical shaft 61 is mounted in a suitable telescopic bearing on the lower table I. The lower end of the shaft 81 is supported in a suitable bracket having a bearing 88, and the shaft is provided with a cam arm Cl having a suitable roller thereon for engagement in a cooperating groove in the cam 6!. With each revolution of the cam 6 l the tucker i2 gill fold in one of the downwardly extending end aps.

The tucker shaft 63 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 63 having an adjusting screw 63'' bearing against the shaft supporting bracket 83. This adjusting screw provides an adjustable stop for limiting the upward movement of the tucker 62, whereby the upward stroke of the tucker may be limited to conform to the size of carton being sealed. While the stroke of the mechanism operating the tucker is fixed, the friction connection 64 between the mechanism and the tucker shaft 63 permits the use of the adjustable stop to limit the movement.

When the squared-out cartons are inserted between the conveyor fiights at the receiving station A, they are supported on the extended lower flap ends by means of a vertically adjusted bracket ll (Fig. 1) which is mounted on the lower table l. The vertical adjustment of bracket I0 is for the purpose of accommodating various sized cartons having fiaps of a corresponding length. During the movement of the carton to the first step position, the advancing lower end flap is folded rearwardly by engagement with an elongated fiap folder and retainer bar II, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 14. This folder bar ll is slidably mounted in a suitable bearing on the glue container II and extends forwardly beyond the glue roll in a position to retain the end fiaps in their folded relation through the second and third steps and until theside flaps are folded sumciently in the third step to retain the end flaps. During the final folding of the side flaps in the third step, the retainer bar II is moved rearwardly out of engagement with the carton in order to allow the side flaps to be completely folded. This rearward movement of the retainer bar 'Il causes the inclined end 12 of the bar to fold the forward end fiap of the advancing carton at the first step position. The bar extends beyond this flap suillciently to retain the opposite flap in folded position after it has been moved inwardly by the tucker 62. As the carton moves forwardly the bar II also moves forwardly so that the opposite end travels with the preceding carton to the third step to retain the end flaps as described above.

The sequence of the folding operations will be described later with special reference to Fig. 14. It should be noted that the folding and sealing mechanism illustrated in Fig. 14 is for folding the bottom flaps of the squared-out cartons moving consecutively from station A and that a substantially identical mechanism is used on the opposite side of the machine and inverted from the position illustrated in Fig. 14 for sealing the upper flaps after the cartons have been filled and are moving consecutively from the filling station B.

Both of the retaining bars II are operated in synchronism with the tuckers and are operatively connected to the vertical shaft 61 which is oscillated by means of cam I. The lower bar II for operating on the lower end flaps is connected to a stub shaft 13 by means of an outwardly extending arm 14 secured thereto and connected to the bar H by means of a link 15. The stub shaft 13 is operatively connected to the cam operated shaft 61 by means of an arm 16 on the stub shaft and a link 'll connected to an arm it. which latter is oscillatably mounted in a suitable bearing in the lower table 8 so as to be vertically adjustable with the table as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. The shaft 61 is preferably square and telescopes the arm 18 through the arm bearing, as shown in Figs. 5 and '7. It will therefore be obvious that both the upper and lower flap retaining bars II will be reciprocated with each intermittent rotation of the cam 6|.

A laterally extending shelf 19 (Fig. 1) is mounted for lateral adjustment on the lower table 0, and a similar laterally extending shelf 1| (Figs. 2 and 4) is mounted for simultaneous lateral adjustment on the upper frame 4 and on the opposite side of the machine. These shelves 1s and 19", in cooperation with the lower table I and upper frame 4, respectively, provide adjustable guides between which the cartons are guided during the sealing operations. The shelves I! and I9 are in horizontal alignment with the surface of the lower table 8 and the upper frame 4, respectively, whereby the side flaps may be spread out against the surface of these members and pressed against the adjacent glue rollers during the movement of the carton to the final step position.

Fig. 4 illustrates clearly atop view of the sealing mechanism and the relation of the side flap spreaders thereto. The spreaders for spreading the lower flaps are identical with those illustrated in Fig. 4 for the top flaps, except inverted in position. It is therefore believed that a description of the top spreaders illustrated in Fig. 4 will be sufficient for both mechanisms.

The side flap spreaders comprise the usual tapered sheet metal members 84 and 8|,which are secured to the frame member 4 and the shelf '19, respectively, as illustrated. Spreader ll is therefore laterally adjustable with the shelf 19. The adhesive container and glue roll are not secured to the shelf 19, but instead are supported on the frame 4 and overhang the shelf and a portion of the frame with sufllcient clearance so that the spread side flaps may pass therebetween. The tapered ends of the spreaders are preferably formed upwardly and curved in crossseetional contour so as to engage between the flaps of the moving carton and cause them to be moved outwardly by the angular edges of the spreaders and to completely spread the flaps into a horizontal position adjacent the shelf 1! and the upper frame 4. This spreading occurs as the carton moves from the first step position to the second step, and during the third step the carton moves beyond the glue roller and receives a suitable adhesive and stops at the end of the third step where suitable transversely movable shoes close and seal the side flaps and retain them in closed position until the carton moves from the third step position under a laterally extending portion of the upper table 4, which portion retains the flaps sealed until they are ejected from the machine into the discharge conveyor by mechanism which will be described later.

In the lower sealing mechanism, the lower flaps are retained sealed by the folder mechanism until the carton moves onto the laterally extending portion or track of the lower table I whereby they are retained sealed as they move around the machine to the filling station.

The sealing portion of the mechanism is very compact and a very short machine may be provided if desired. In the embodiment illustrated herein, however, the forward end of the machine is somewhat extended; that is, the carton conveyor is elongated so that any desired operations may be performed while the carton is moving from the first sealing mechanism to the loading station. For instance, it is sometimes desired to insert so-called liners in these cartons. The liners comprise paper bags which are inserted in the containers after the bottom is sealed, the bags being open in such a manner as not to interfere with the filling operation. The upper ends of these bags are preferably folded with the flaps in such a manner that the folded portions of the bag interlock with the sealed flaps.

The upper folding and sealing mechanism is provided with a tucker 62 which is similar to the tucker l! of the lower mechanism. It will be apparent that this tucker might be operatively connected to the shaft 61 to operate simultaneously with the tucker 62. However, when liners are used, it is desirable to time the tucker mechanism somewhat differently in order tocooperate with the movement of a suitable liner spreading device. Therefore, in the present em bodiment the tuckers 62* are secured to an oscillatabletransverse shaft 82. The shaft 82 is provided with a cam arm 83 having a roller 84 cooperating with a cam 85, which latter is secured to a short shaft 86 mounted in a suitable bracket on the upper frame 4. The short cam shaft 86 is ported on a compound lever arrangement 9|.

The arms of this compound lever are pivoted on suitable brackets and provided with a roller 92 in engagement with a cam 93 secured to the short shaft 86. The liner-spreader 89 therefore has asubstantially vertical motion which may be so synchronized with the movement of the carton and with the tuckers that the downward movement of the spreader will spread the liners immediately before the folding-in of the end flaps. and as these end flaps are folded in, the spreader 8! will simultaneously raise out of the way of the flaps, and the flaps in their continued closing movement will also'foid the ends of the liner inwardly, leaving the sides spread in a closed triangular formation. The upwardly extending portions of the liner adjacent the side flaps will then be further spread during the next step by the side flap spreaders to pass under the glue roll and will be folded inwardly during the final side fiap folding operation so that the triangular shaped liner ends are interlocked between the flaps as they are sealed. A preferred form of liner-spreading mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 2i and will be described later.

As previously stated, suitable transversely movable side fiap folding mechanisms are provided, one of these mechanisms being mounted on the lower table I for folding the lower side flaps and a similar mechanism being inverted and mounted on the upper frame 4 for folding the upper flaps after the carton has been filled. As these mechanisms are substantially identical, it is believed that a description of the upper mechanism for folding the filled cartons will suffice for both. This mechanism, as illustrated particularly in Figs 4, 12, 12a, and 13, comprises transversely movable shoes or folding members 04 and 95, which are preferably triangular as illustrated, and, when in a position to receive the fiaps thereover, are housed in suitable openings 04 and 9B in the shelf 19 and the frame 4, respectively, so that their upper surfaces are substantially flush therewith. The shoes are mounted on an adjustable telescopic framework comprising a bar rigidly secured to the upper frame I by means of suitable brackets, and an inwardly movable bar I! slidably mounted on the member 96 in parallel relation, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The shelf 10' is secured to this adjustable bar 01 by means of a bracket (Fig. 2), the opposite end of the shelf 18 being supported on a rack bar 99, which is slidably mounted in suitable brackets I00 on the upper frame 4. It will be apparent that the shelf 19* may be adjusted laterally and the folders will be simultaneously adjusted to operate on a desired size of carton.

Slide members IM and I02 are mounted on the bars and 91, respectively, and the folding shoes 94 and 05 are provided with upwardly extending arms I03 which are slidably mounted for vertical movement of the slide members H and I02. The shoe arms I03 are provided with inwardly extending pins I04 engaged in elongated slots I05 in the respective bars 85 and 91. The slots I00 are oppositely disposed in the bars 06 and 01 and are so shaped that when the slides are moved inwardly each of the shoes will make an angular upward and downward movement, thereby lifting and closing its respective side flap. The continued movement causes each shoe to slide over its respective flap and press it snugly in position. The normal stopped position of the shoe 04 is immediately over the carton flap and pressing thereon as illustrated in Fig. 4, whereby the flaps are retained in closed position until the next intermittent movement whereby the shoe is moved to the position of Fig. 12 to receive another carton and the sealed carton is moved under the laterally extending portion of the upper frame 4, which continues to hold the flaps sealed. Figs. 12 and 13 show the position of the shoes ready to receive the fiaps of a succeeding carton during an intermittent movement and is not the normal stopped position.

The bars 98 and 01 are provided with stops I06 and I01, respectively, to limit movement of the shoe slides. These stops are engaged at the limit of the inward movement by projections I00 and I00 on the slide members, and it will be apparent that, as the slide bar 00 is fixed on the upper frame member 4, the stop I" will always stop the shoe 84 at a fixed point in its inward movement irrespective of any adjustment. The guide bar 91 being adjustable, the stop Ill will always stop the shoe 9! in a position corresponding to the width of the carton to which the machine has been adjusted.

Figs. 12 and 12a illustrate the shoes 04 and 0! moved from their normal stopped position and their relation to a sealed carton which is stopped at the third step position. In Fig. 12a. the movement of the shoes during the folding operation is illustrated in dotted lines. As soon as the intermittent movement is started the shoe 04 moves outwardly from the stopped position of Fig. 4 to the position indicated in Figs. 12 and 12a, and during this movement the sealed carton moves forwardly and a succeeding carton, with the side flaps extended and glued by passing under the glue roll, moves to a position to be folded by the shoes. The shoe N is preferably somewhat narrower than the shoe 0!, so that the forward movement of the succeeding carton allows the shoe 04 to be moved to the position indicated in Figs. 12 and 12a before the succeeding carton has advanced sufficiently to have its movement interfered with by the shoe.. Also, at the start of this forward movement, the inner open flap starts over the shoe 95 and the shoe 85 simultaneously starts toward sealing position, thereby raising the flap to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12a. The cam operating the shoe is so shaped that the shoe 95 hesitates substantially at the position indicated by dotted lines, in which position the side fiap has been moved to angular position sufilcientiy to retain the inner end fiaps closed, while the retainer bar H (Fig. 14) is withdrawn by its rearward movement previously described. During this movement of the shoe 05, the shoe 84 performs a similar opera tion on the opposite side fiap and moves to the closed position indicated by dotted lines and then moves outwardly to its original position. During this outward sliding movement of shoe 94 the shoe 95 continues its movement and completely closes the outer flap. The shoe 0! remains in this sealing position until the next intermittent movement, thereby retaining the fiaps sealed until the carton is again moved. The movement of the shoe 95 is somewhat delayed relative to the movement of the shoe 9 whereby the shoe 04 is completely withdrawn from the carton before the shoe 95 completely closes the opposite fiap.

When it is desired to seal cartons having short side fiaps, or when the flaps do not overlap or may meet edge to edge on the center line of the 081-- ton, the movement of the shoes 04 and 05 may be adjusted so that they do not overlap. They may be made to move inwardly simultaneously if desired, with a-dwell at the proper time to permit the retaining bar H to be withdrawn.

The slide III for moving the shoe 04 is operated from a vertical shaft 0 which is positioned on the axial line of the machine and centrally located between the side flap folding mechanisms. The shaft H0 is provided with an arm III which is connected with the slide I0! by means of a link H2. The arm ill is provided with a pivoted friction block III which is engaged in a slot H4 in the link II2. This friction blockand-slot connection permits the longitudinal adjustment of the telescoping bar 31 relative to the bar 96, whereby, although the stroke of the arm III is fixed, the stroke of the slide iii and its corresponding shoe 34 will be limited in its inner -movement by the slide stop I" and its outer movement will be limited by abutment against the bracket 98, the friction block-and-slot arrangement providing suilicient lost motion so that the movement of the shoe 34 will be relative to the width of the package or of the flaps to which the machine is adjusted.

The slide Hi2 for controlling the shoe 33 is also provided with a slotted link II! which is frictionally secured to an arm I It in the same manner as previously described for the link H2. The arm H6 is secured to a sleeve II'I (Fig. '7) on the shaft I I and this sleeve is oscillated by means of the cam 60 to move the slide III2. The shaft III) is provided at its lower end with a cam arm H8 secured thereto and provided with a suitable roller engaging in a cam slot in the cam 59. Through this connection the shoe 34 may be operated and timed in accordance with the contour of the cam. The sleeve III is provided with a cam arm II9 also having a suitable roller engaging in a cam slot in the cam 30, whereby the movement of the shoe 35 may be controlled in accordance with the contour of the cam.

The mechanism for folding and sealing the lower flaps during the intermittent movement of the open carton after it has been inserted at the receiving station A may be identical with the upper sealing mechanism just described, and in order to operate this lower. sealing mechanism, arms II Ii and I I I are arranged to be operated from their respective cams through the sleeve II! and the shaft 0, respectively, in the same manner and with the same stroke as the arms III and H6. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 7, in which-the arm III comprises a skeleton frame slidably mounted on the sleeve Ill and supported under the lower table 8 by means of an interengaging bracket I23. A vertical rod I2I is secured to the skeleton frame of the arm I I6 and its lower end is slidably mounted in an outwardly extending skeleton arml22 secured to the lower end of the sleeve Ill. The rod I2I is arranged to telescope through the arm I22 when the table 3 is raised or lowered. The arm III also comprises a skeleton framework which is oscillatably and slidably mounted on the sleeve II! and is retained in its relative position by having its bearings interlocked with the bearings of the arm 6'. This arm III is also provided with a vertical rod I23 secured thereto, and which telescopes through the skeleton frame I24 of the cam arm III. By this construction it will be apparent that the cam 53 will oscillate the arms III and III' and the corresponding shoes to which they are connected. Also, the cam 80 will oscillate the arms H6 and I I6 and their corresponding shoes. Furthermore, the arms H6 and III, together with the lower folding mechanism, may be raised or lowered with the table 8 without disturbing the operative.

connections which are telescopically mounte as described.

As previously stated, the shelves I3 and I3 are laterally adjustable simultaneously with the folding mechanisms- The upper shelf 19'- is secured to the telescopic folder bar 31 and the rack rod 99, and the lower shelf I3 is secured by suitable brackets to the telescopic folder bar 31 and the rack bar 33'. This is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 15. In order that all of these parts may be simultaneously adjusted, suitable Pinion rods I25 and I23 are rotatably supported in suitable bearings in the upper frame 4. The pinion rod I2! is provided with a pinion I21 at its upper end meshing with the rack bar 39. The lower end of the pinion rod I 25 is provided with elongated pinion teeth at I28 which mesh with corresponding rack teeth on the folder bar 31. The rod I23 is provided at its upper end with pinion teeth I 23 engaging with suitable rack teeth on the upper folder bar 31. The lower end of this pinion rod I26 meshes with suitable teeth on the rack bar 98'. The pinion rods I23 and I23 are connected for simultaneous rotation by means of a sprocket chain I30 on suitable sprockets as illustrated.

The upper end of the rod I23 is somewhat extended and arranged to receive a suitable wrench whereby the pinion rods may be rotated and. through the construction just described, may simultaneously laterally adjust both the upper and lower folding mechanisms and corresponding guide shelves.

Figs. 16, 17, and 18 illustrate the carton conveyor chains and'the adjustable flights thereon. This conveyor comprises the upper chain I1 supported on the sprockets I9 and guided in a suitable track on the upper frame 4, as indicated in Fig. 18. The lower chain I 3 is supported on the sprockets 20 and guided in a similar track on the lower adjustable table 8.

Flight supporting members I3I are secured to the chains by means of suitable guide blocks I32, and spaced flights I33 and I33 are adjustably mounted on the member I3I. The flight I33 is mounted for sliding adjustment in a slot I34 and may be secured in any adjusted position corresponding to the desired width of carton by means of a retaining screw I35. The opposite flight I33 is secured to a block I36 which is slidably mounted in a slot I31. The block I36 is normally retained in the position illustrated in Fig. 17 by means of a spring I33 secured thereto and having its opposite end secured to the block I32. The block I36 is provided with a pawl I39 arranged to engage a cam surface I40 which is positioned adjacent the filling station B, whereby, when the carton arrives in the filling position at the station A, the pawl I39 will be engaged by the cam surface I 40 and moved inwardly, thereby moving the flight I33 outwardly and releasing the carton so that it may be vibrated during the filling operation.

The mechanism for vertically vibrating the carton is illustrated in Fig. 2 and comprises a carton receiving table I which is slidably mounted in a guide member I42 and connected to a motor I43 by means of a connecting rod I44. The table I is constantly vibrated by means of a motor I43 and, as the carton passes onto the vibrating table I and between the guide shelf I3 and the upper frame 4, the flight I33- is simultaneously moved to release the package and permit the carton to vibrate.

After the carton is filled and sealed, the continued intermittent operation of the conveyor brings it into alignment with the discharge conveyor C. Simultaneously with the movement of the carton into alignment with this conveyor, the carton is engaged by movable fingers which move it from the carton conveyor into the discharge conveyor.

The mechanism for moving the cartons into 

